Keeping the little shops open

[Matthew_T]

I had a speaker break in my car so I was on the hunt for some new ones. Halfords had the cheapest at £20 but they wouldnt fit, and they didnt have the right connectors.
So, just by chance, I went into my local car parts shop and had a look. They had the right size and they fitted. They also had the connectors which I needed. It was very good that I went to the little shop though, because the speakers were £18 and the connector was 90p.

The speakers fitted fine and work really well. The staff in the little shop were very helpful and explained the process I would have to go through to fit them. Something the staff at Halfords didnt have the first clue about.

When buying bike parts, I tend to go online because it is the cheapest, but if I need my bike fixing or servicing, I will go to my LBS and not Halfords (just because of the service mainly).

I have found that the little shops can often be cheaper than the big ones (similarly prices to online stores normally). So I like to keep them busy with my service.

 

[Markymark]

It's an old trick. Big shops give the impressions they're cheaper but often they're not. My local mini-mart is often much cheaper on all sorts of things than the big supermarkets.

 

[Archie_tect]

That's the difference between convenience shopping where they know the can hike up the prices and supply and demand shopping where to survive you have to be competitive.

 

[rb58]

My local ironmonger will sell me one of something and put it in a paper bag, rather than the multiples you get at the big stores - usually in cardboard and plastic packaging - at ten times the price. The local shop is always my first stop for things like that.

 

[MontyVeda]

I'd love to support the little shops... the hard part is finding them. Lancaster now has no greengrocer that isn't part of Tesco, M&S, Sainsburys, no record shop unless you count Sainsburys or Asda and only one proper butcher. Identikit burger/pizza/kebab shops are ubiquitous though... as are sh!te pubs. I blame the students.

 

[JoeyB]

Hang on, speakers didn't have the right connectors?? Its two wires!!! Cut them and join them....simples!

 

[Dangermouse]

We normally support our local LBS but to be brutally honest, they are so expensive I don't know how they stay in business, luckily our local Halfords is staffed by cycle enthusiasts and they really do know what they are doing, I think its a Halfords training centre but for cars, the bike guys are always out riding when not at work and do a good job if your bike needs any work doing.............yes this is a rare shop

 

[accountantpete]

Sorry but a new innertube for my MTB costs £6 at the LBS.

The MTB in question cost £10.

 

[nickyboy]

If the little shop happens to have it in stock then they are often as cheap if not cheaper. But they can't hold enough breadth of stock.

eg. today I bit the bullet and had a go at servicing the bike headset. Found that one of the bearings was knackered so went to the lbs. I was told "too many variations in the bearings so we don't stock any". Not "Let's have a look, yes we can get those in and fit it for you for £XX". So I'll buy it online and try to do it myself

 

[Cycleops]

My local ironmonger will sell me one of something and put it in a paper bag, rather than the multiples you get at the big stores - usually in cardboard and plastic packaging - at ten times the price. The local shop is always my first stop for things like that.

Ironmonger! Can't remember whem I last saw one of those.

 

[fossyant]

Oi, stop talking about cars and things. You've gone to the dark side. Booooo

 

[ASC1951]

....When buying bike parts, I tend to go online because it is the cheapest, but if I need my bike fixing or servicing, I will go to my LBS and not Halfords (just because of the service mainly).

I have found that the little shops can often be cheaper than the big ones (similarly prices to online stores normally). So I like to keep them busy with my service.

Hmm. If you don't buy parts from them as well, how long will they still be around to do servicing?

 

[gbb]

Hmm. If you don't buy parts from them as well, how long will they still be around to do servicing?

Sometimes you just have to dig a bit deeper In your pockets, for the good of LBS, but sometimes they can be cheaper or at least the same price as the online retailers. Two examples...
Brand new, recently released bikes..LBS..£595 for my Via Nirone, same bike at Evans..£595. If you want older models, the online retailers can be cheaper, but nee modelstend to be the same price wherever you go.
Ahead to quill converter..ebay, circa £10, online retailer, circa £8...LBS had a dig, gave me one for £6.
I like my LBS, with that in mind I just paid £38 for a mid range saddle and seatpost for my hybrid. I could have saved some online...but sometimes you have to do the right thing for your local retailers.

 

[User16625]

I hate the fact OP tried Halfords in the 1st place. Halfords do for cycling what pissed tramps do for society.

 

[derrick]

I try and support my local shops but I won't buy things that I don't want or pay exorbitant prices. As it happens, my LBS, Shorter Rochford has a great stock, will always order stuff in and usually competes well on price. Plus they are nice with it.

Shorter Rochford Cycles
Here you go Derrick Nelmes, a picture of the Cervelo S3
Rochfords are allways trying to sell me stuff.http://www.shorter-rochford.co.uk/bikes/s3-ultegra/